Mumia Abu-Jamal celebrates 60

Activists and comrades of political prisoner of war Mumia Abu-Jamal have scheduled a number of events next week commemorating the anniversary of his physical birth.

“On April 24, Mumia will be 60 years old. I would like to invite everybody to come out to celebrate his birthday and participate in the ongoing effort to bring Mumia home. On April 26, there will be a constitutional protest in Philadelphia,” shared fellow Panther Angela Davis. “Mumia is one of the most important political prisoners of the 21st century.”

Abu-Jamal’s advocates contend that it was the power of the people that helped spare the revolutionary writer from being legally lynched on three separate occasions and help get his death sentence commuted to life in prison without parole back on Dec. 9, 2011. They are calling upon that same forceful movement to assist with the next stage in their campaign to bring Abu-Jamal home.

“Although it is Mumia’s birthday, we’re celebrating the fact that Mumia lives and that there’s a movement that still lives and is getting stronger in the fight for Mumia’s life,” determined Pam Africa, minister of confrontation for the MOVE Organization.

This celebration will begin with a Celebration of Life party on Thursday, April 24 at 6 p.m. at Harlem’s Riverside Church (91 Claremont Ave., room 10T). A number of progressive artists are set to perform, including the legendary Last Poets, Dead Prez, Immortal Technique and Jasiri X.

Also planned is a special tribute to Amiri Baraka, his family and the Black Arts Movement; a presentation by Cornell West; and call-ins from Angela Davis and Abu-Jamal himself.

Then on Saturday, April 26 at 8 a.m., buses will depart from three separate New York City locations and head to Philadelphia. Upon arrival, a Sons & Daughters of the Revolution March will leave at 10 a.m. from the former Philadelphia Black Panther Party headquarters to the Celebration of Life Block Party at the Church of the Advocate, which will be held from 11 a.m to 6:30 p.m. Informative workshops regarding updates on the demands to bring Abu-Jamal home will be shared.

“We’re bringing attention to the facts in just what went down with Mumia and the lawyer [President Barack] Obama had selected to the Justice Department [Debo Adegbile] and how the fraternal order of police attacked that,” Africa stated.